Colne cleaning firm answers veterans’ DIY SOS appeal

Nick Knowles from the BBC's DIY SOS show takes a selfie with Louise and Sean Warren-Beck from Colne company XGreen Clean. (S)

Published:11:53Wednesday 30 September 2015

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A Colne cleaning company answered an SOS from a BBC TV star at the weekend and volunteered at the finish of a Veterans’ Village in Manchester.

Husband and wife Sean and Louise Warren-Beck, of XGreen Clean, took themselves off to Newton Heath for a full day of work after Nick Knowles from BBC One’s DIY SOS show put out a last minute call on Saturday night for cleaning help on the Sunday.

It was a massive cleaning effort. Obviously the cleaning was the last thing to be done and could only be done after the workman had finished

Louise Warren-Beck

The Warren-Beck’s jumped at the chance to help with the finishing touches at the landmark Manchester scheme which has seen 25 homes brought back into use and a further 62 refurbished to house former service men and women.

They even managed to get a selfie with Nick, one of daytime TV’s most iconic faces, who has lately presented a string of National Lottery gameshows.

XGreen Clean, run by directors Sean Warren-Beck (28) and Anthony Hirst (31), both formerly of the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, has a team of cleaners who are entirely ex-military personnel.

Louise (24) said: “We saw the call for volunteers and had to help as it is something really close to our hearts. It’s important their efforts are not forgotten.

“It was a massive cleaning effort. Obviously the cleaning was the last thing to be done and could only be done after the workman had finished.

“I think they were laying the tarmac on the roads at 8pm on Sunday and veterans were starting to move in on Monday.

“It was a really worthwhile and rewarding day and great for us as a company to gain cleaning tips and make contacts.

“Nick was great and the DIY SOS team were getting putting the work in like everybody else who was there. When I asked for a photograph, Nick took the phone and said ‘let’s have a selfie’. It was brilliant.”